News in Short

• India will bring smartphone glass screen protectors under compulsory BIS registration.
• The new requirement will take effect from April 1, 2027.
• IS 19348:2025 will become the applicable standard.
• The standard covers glass quality, dimensions and strength.

A screen protector may be one of the simplest accessories for a smartphone. However, that could soon change in India.

The government has added smartphone glass screen protectors to the products covered by compulsory BIS registration rules.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology notified the amendment on September 21. The new requirement will take effect from April 1, 2027.

So, what exactly is changing? And why is the government bringing screen protectors under a mandatory standard?

What Are the New BIS Rules for Screen Protectors?

Under the new framework, glass screen protectors sold in India will have to meet IS 19348:2025.

The standard is titled “Glass Screen Protector — Specification”. It sets requirements for several aspects of a screen protector.

These include glass quality, dimensions and strength. The standard also goes beyond the glass itself.

It covers adhesives, anti-shatter films, oleophobic coatings and anti-glare coatings. It also includes blue-light filtering and privacy layers.

That means manufacturers will need to consider multiple components when making products for the Indian market.

Why Is India Bringing This Rule?

The new framework aims to establish clearer quality requirements for glass screen protectors.

The category includes a wide range of products. Consumers can currently find protectors across different price points and specifications.

The new standard creates defined requirements for products covered by the rule.

It also gives manufacturers and importers time to prepare before the requirements become mandatory in April 2027.

For consumers, the certification framework could make compliance easier to identify.

Products that complete the certification process will carry relevant BIS marking and registration details.

What Could Change for Phone Users?

The biggest visible change could be the range of screen protectors available in the market.

Products that do not meet the required standard may not remain available once the mandatory requirements take effect.

The new rules could therefore affect particularly low-cost products, depending on whether manufacturers choose to certify them.

For buyers, the BIS marking could offer an additional way to check whether a product meets the specified Indian standard.

However, the rules do not mean that every certified screen protector will offer the same level of protection. The standard covers defined specifications and components, while actual performance can still vary between products.

Will Screen Protectors Become More Expensive?

That remains unclear.

Manufacturers and importers will have to meet testing and certification requirements. That could add costs to businesses.

Those additional expenses could eventually affect product pricing.

However, the government notification does not specify any increase in retail prices. Therefore, it would be premature to say that screen protectors will definitely become more expensive from April 2027.

What Do Manufacturers Need to Do?

Businesses selling covered screen protectors in India will have to prepare for the new compliance requirements before the deadline.

They will need to ensure that their products meet the specifications under IS 19348:2025.

This includes requirements related to the glass, adhesives and additional protective layers.

For manufacturers and importers, the process could involve additional testing and certification costs.

The April 2027 deadline gives businesses several months to adapt their products and compliance processes.

What Should Smartphone Users Know?

For now, smartphone users do not need to make any changes.

The new requirement starts on April 1, 2027.

Once it takes effect, consumers may see more screen protectors carrying BIS registration details. The market could also see changes in the availability of certain products.

The key point is that the new rules are focused on setting a defined standard for glass screen protectors.

Whether they lead to higher prices or significantly change consumer choice will become clearer as manufacturers begin preparing for the new requirements.